Valley Elected Leaders Snag Grant For Regionalization Study

Members of the Derby and Ansonia legislative delegation in Hartford — Democratic State Rep. Linda Gentile of Ansonia/Derby, House Republican Minority Leader Themis Klarides, Republican State Sen. George Logan of Ansonia and Republican State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria of Seymour — welcomed funds for the City of Ansonia and the City of Derby for a comprehensive study on the feasibility of regionalizing the two cities education departments or the possibility of sharing these services.

The $168,500 grant, included in H.B. 5028, has been allocated to fund the study and will be administered by the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments.

“These funds are very important to cities like ours,” said Rep. Gentile. “I am open to regionalization initiatives that if proven practical, would lead to more efficient services beneficial to our constituencies. This study will help us learn more about these possibilities and how beneficial this would be for Ansonia and Derby.”

“Ansonia and Derby are smart to decide to study regionalizing their school systems,” said Rep. Klarides. “The state should help municipalities out in their efforts to regionalize, but it should always be up to the local residents to do so.”

Sen. Logan said, “This is forward-thinking, common sense, bipartisan legislation which will benefit Ansonia and Derby taxpayers. I am proud to be a part of this team effort.”

“Regionalizing schools in Ansonia and Derby is something that has been talked about for years. I applaud the two cities efforts to move forward with this study and thank my colleagues for supporting this study. It will not only save the state money but it will also help the local communities,” said
Rep. Klarides-Ditria.

Derby and Ansonia have formed a joint committee to study the issue. It could take up to two years. If a proposal comes out of the study, voters in both cities would have to approve it.